Belarus’ Levankou is a finalist at the Yukov Prizes Youth Tournament after his surprise success
26 February 2021The third competition day was held at the Yukov Prizes Youth Tournament in Gomel where twenty exciting semi-finals delighted the experts. Belarus’ EUBC European Youth Boxing Championships bronze medallist Kiryl Levankou eliminated the Uzbek favourite at the bantamweight (56kg) and marched into the finals.
The men’s light flyweight (49kg), flyweight (52kg), bantamweight (56kg), lightweight (60kg), light welterweight (64kg), welterweight (69kg), middleweight (75kg), light heavyweight (81kg), heavyweight (91kg) and super heavyweight (+91kg) boxers were in action in the third day of boxing at the new Yukov Prizes Youth Tournament.
The event is live streamed at Gomel Boxing’s YouTube channel from Day1 and all of the stakeholders can follow the bouts of each session. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan joined to the event from the Asian continent and all of them strengthen the annual Yukov Prizes Youth Tournament.
The competition is the next preparation opportunity for the youngsters before the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships which will be held in Kielce, Poland this April. Boxers who were born in 2002, 2003 and in 2004 are eligible to attend in the Yukov Prizes Youth Tournament in Gomel.
The safety of all participants, the continuous medical checks, the social distancing, the hygienic preparations, wearing masks and all of the health controls are the responsibility of the local organizers in Gomel to avoid any new Covid-19 cases during the Yukov Prizes Youth Tournament.
The bout of day
Kazakhstan’s Zhandos Zhumabayev trains in the city of Shymkent in the southern part of the huge country and reached his career highlight four weeks ago when he won their Youth National Championships at the flyweight (52kg). Zhumabayev was born in 2003 as his semi-final opponent, Spain’s Juan Pantoja who claimed bronze medal at the Budva 2020 EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships. The Spaniard had an impressive footwork in the first round but Zhumabayev’s tactic was also based on his excellent skills. The Kazakh boxer received strong advices from head coach Mr. Kairat Satzhanov in the first break and he was able to eliminate the outstanding Spanish talent.
The surprise of the day
Belarus’ EUBC European Youth Boxing Championships bronze medallist Kiryl Levankou is one of the best hopes of the host country who competes now at the bantamweight (56kg). He has the height to work from longer distance but he had such hard job against Uzbekistan’s favourite Mirzabek Mirzakhalilov. His Uzbek opponent was tough and well-experienced but Levankou exceeded the previous expectations and eliminated Mirzakhalilov. The Belarusian boxer will be meeting with Kazakhstan’s Yerbolat Sabyr who used his speed to beat Spain’s Oier Ibarreche.
The Round-up
Spain’s Rafael Lozano Serrano eliminated Kazakhstan’s two-time Youth National Champion Kenzhe Muratuly in the quarter-finals of the light flyweight (49kg) and he met with another boxer from the Central Asian boxing power. The Kazakh coaches analysed well the 16-year-old Spaniard and their Sanzhar Tashkenbay followed that tactic in the contest. Lozano gave in everything but his daily form was not enough to beat the tactically smart Kazakh boxer.
Belarus’ Andrei Masalov controlled his quarter-final against his fellow Raman Kaziankou at the light heavyweight (81kg) but he had a much stronger opponent as second in Gomel. Masalov had to meet with Kazakhstan’s Nursultan Beysenbayev in the last four and he was expecting another hard battle. The Belarusian youngster worked well in all of the three rounds and eliminated his Central Asian rival. Masalov’s next opponent will be Kazakhstan’s ASBC Asian Junior Champion favourite, Yerassyl Zhakpekov who bowed out Belarus’ Aliaksandr Prudnikau in the second semi-final.
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